But despite early initial reports of quantum yields of 200% in quantum dot photoelectrochemical solar cells, no quantum dot-based photovoltaic device to date has shown an actual enhanced power conversion efficiency due to MEG.

The results are an important demonstration of the potential to improve the performance of photoelectrochemical cells, as well as photovoltaic solar cells, using carefully designed materials, Zhang said.

The effort in SERC is focused on building a highly affordable system in which the entire process will take place in a single photoelectrochemical (PEC) cell that collects sunlight and then generates the fuels at catalysts powered by the light harvesting and charge separating units.

CEC Director Allen Bard says the initiative has three central thrusts: a project developing new photovoltaic and photoelectrochemical materials that could eventually make solar power competitive with fossil fuels; a project that will address the challenges of creating better batteries that can store energy over longer periods of time; and a project that will explore the chemistry of electrocatalysts.